A recent intercepted phone call has revealed a disturbing exchange between a Russian military commander and a soldier fighting in southern Ukraine. The commander expressed his frustration by belittling the soldier, stating that the military has resorted to deploying cooks to the frontlines due to a severe shortage of personnel. This exchange highlights the dire situation faced by Russian forces as they continue to struggle in the ongoing conflict.
In the call, released on September 29, 2023 by Ukraine’s Defense Intelligence, the commander was heard berating the soldier for his complaints about fatigue and the need for transportation. The unnamed soldier, who is an attack pilot stationed in the critical Zaporizhzhia region, expressed his physical limitations, stating, “My knees are so weak, I can’t even step on them.”
The commander responded with a harsh tirade, mocking the soldier’s plea for help. “You want the company commander to take the wheel for you and come down to roll you around? Do I understand you correctly?” he exclaimed, further stating, “There are no f–king people, everyone has left, the cooks are already going into battle because you can’t f–king win.”
This alarming exchange underscores the challenges currently confronting the Russian military. Reports indicate that their advances in the Zaporizhzhia region, which is one of the most contested areas of the war, have stalled recently. Russian forces control approximately 75% of the territory in this region, but their progress has been hindered by what Ukrainian intelligence describes as “Moscow’s own incompetence.”
The situation has become so critical that the Kremlin has been forced to deploy non-combat personnel, including cooks, drivers, and other support staff, to the frontlines. According to a statement from Ukraine’s Defense Intelligence, this is indicative of a broader strategy in which “the wounded, the seriously ill, cooks, drivers, signalers, drone operators, and others” are all being drawn into combat roles.
The human toll of this conflict is staggering. It is estimated that nearly 1 million Russian troops have been killed or wounded since the war began in February 2022. In a desperate bid to avoid the frontlines, some soldiers have even resorted to self-inflicted injuries to be relieved of their duties, illustrating the severe strains on morale and manpower within the Russian ranks.
As the conflict continues, the implications of these developments not only affect the soldiers on the ground but also signal potential shifts in the overall strategies employed by the Russian military. The ongoing struggle in the Zaporizhzhia region may foreshadow further challenges for Russia as it seeks to maintain its territorial gains in Ukraine.
